Client: Southern Downs Regional Council State: QLD The Southern Downs has seen strong population growth in recent years. The region recorded a 44.0% increase in capital city to regional migration in the March 2021 quarter, the second largest growth in Australia. The strong growth indicates an appreciation for the lifestyle offered by the Southern Downs, it’s relaxed and beautiful public realm, and good access to services. The Southern Downs Residential Attraction Strategy, developed by AEC in collaboration with the Southern Downs Regional Council, aims to guide the region towards increased residential population over the next five years. The strategy seeks to attract people to the Southern Downs region by increasing economic growth and the liveability of towns and communities as well as increasing awareness of the region. In developing this strategy, AEC brought our intimate understanding of the region as well as our skills, experience, and expertise to deliver unparalleled outcomes for the Southern Downs. AEC undertook extensive data analysis to create an evidence-based understanding of the region. This was supplemented by extensive stakeholder engagement to develop an in-depth understanding of the region and the opportunities for residential and business attraction and retention. AEC brought these elements together to create a public facing strategy for residential attraction supported with a detailed action plan for Council.

Client: Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Australiasia State: NSW Cruise ship visitors have been engaged across various Australian ports to understand the economic impact of the Cruise Shipping Industry on the Australian economy. These studies provide limited information on the behaviour of international cruise passengers pre and post cruise in Australian destinations. The most recent study into international cruise passenger demographics, pre and post cruise travel and stopover behavior and perceptions was commissioned in 2023 by Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) and Australian Cruise Association (ACA). International passengers aboard cruise ships arriving or departing from the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) or the White Bay Cruise Terminal (WBCT) in Sydney (NSW) were engaged via intercept surveys. Over n=550 surveys were collected resulting in a margin of error of ±4.14%. Key insights into the number of nights spent in Australia, motivation(s) for visiting, key destinations visited and stopovers, pre and post cruise expenditure as well as visitor perceptions across various aspects provided Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) and Australian Cruise Association (ACA) with evidence-based understanding and information to support decision making and advocacy.

Client: Regional Development Australia (Central and Western Queensland) State: QLD The North and North West Queensland regions are the focus of considerable economic development planning by various levels of government. The Australian Government is currently undertaking a review of its Developing Northern Australia agenda and the Queensland Government is looking to accelerate the implementation of both its Energy and Jobs Plan and North West Economic Diversity Strategy. AEC have been engaged by Regional Development Australia Central and Western Queensland (RDACWQ) to develop a strategic regional plan for the entire region. In developing the plan, AEC have undertaken a detailed Economic Development Discussion Paper, which provides a data-driven overview of the regional economy, highlighting economic development challenges and opportunities. A comprehensive literature review was done, incorporating all previous regional economic planning to date. Extensive stakeholder engagement was carried out to ensure local perspectives and historical research are included and findings are practical and fit for local implementation. ​ The outcome of the RDA Strategic Regional Plan is an overarching regional plan, supported by sub-regional plans for the Gladstone, Rockhampton, Central Highlands (incl Woorabinda), Banana, Capricorn Coast (Livingstone) and Western Queensland regions.

Client: Cloncurry Shire Council State: QLD The Cloncurry Shire is home to a number of communities that have been developed on the back of the region’s pastoral and mining successes. Cloncurry Shire Council (Council) are looking to ensure their region will retain existing and continue attracting new residents to live and work in the region. A key part of resident retention and attraction is meeting and exceeding liveability expectations of current and potential residents. Council engaged AEC to identify unrealised growth potential for the region to aid the retention of existing and attraction of new residents to the region. In doing this, AEC developed an Activate Cloncurry Strategy and Action Plan, which assists Council to focus activities that improve the health and wellbeing and enhance liveability across the region. AEC identified key factors of current and future residents’ liveability through stakeholder engagement, and identified the need to ensure contemporary sport, recreation and play facilities and services for all ages in the community are available. AEC undertook a range of contextual research of local, state, federal and regional literature of socio-demographic statistics of existing regional facilities as well as extensive stakeholder engagement to understand the value of existing structures and a local viewpoint of Council’s liveability.

Client: City of Moreton Bay State: QLD The City of Moreton Bay (Council) engaged AEC Group to undertake a “Comprehensive Economic Need and Impact Analysis” on the proposed North Harbour Marina Precinct (to comprise some 2,000 dwellings, 400 wet berths, 500 dry stack, marina village and commercial/retail/industry floor space). AEC, as the lead consultant, assembled the project team which also includes AECOM and Coriolis Marine Consultants (Coriolis), bringing together expertise in economics, property, strategy, planning and marine consulting in order to deliver this advice. Council’s purpose in seeking the advice was to establish an economic evidence base to progress the declaration of a Priority Development Area (PDA) over the proposed North Harbour Marina Precinct. The objective of the project was to understand the ‘net’ economic and market benefits that a new working marina can potentially deliver to the Moreton Bay region, South-East Queensland and the State of Queensland that will satisfy the requirements under the Economic Development Act 2012 (QLD). Source: Department of Planning and Environment

Client: North QLD Water Infrastructure Authority State: QLD The Hells Gates Dam Scheme (HGDS) Supply Chain Assessment examined the nature and timing of the skills and occupational needs over the 7-10 year construction program of the $3.5-$5.0 billion Hells Gates Dam Scheme on behalf of the Australian Governments North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority. Detailed analysis was undertaken for each of the 19 infrastructure elements across the work packages involved to identify and quantify the number of different trades and skills required and how many could reasonably be expected to be sourced from North Queensland. For those sectors and occupations anticipated to be under stress as a result of the project, innovative strategies were developed to assist in realising as many local jobs were delivered. The project included an extensive engagement campaign with local businesses to understand their readiness and preparedness to participate in the delivery of the HGDS should it proceed. Report: https://www.townsvilleenterprise.com.au/statement-hells-gates-feasibility-study/

Client: Tourism Western Australia State: WA AEC in partnership with The BHive was engaged to develop a ten year strategy for cruise tourism in Western Australia. The project involved 40 individual one-on-one consultations across tourism, port, cruise line and ground handler stakeholders and a workshop with the Cruise Western Australia Committee. The project also involved projecting the economic value of cruise tourism over the next ten years incorporating various infrastructure developments as well as capacity constraints for the expedition cruise sector in the Kimberley.

Client: Harmony Gold Country: Papua New Guinea AEC were engaged by Harmony Gold to examine the economic contribution of the Hidden Valley Mine in Papua New Guinea as part of their mine closure planning. The assessment included extensive surveying of the local community and businesses across various land holder villages to gauge the level of incomes and employment within the community supported by the mine, and the anticipated impacts to the community and future prospects following mine closure. Analysis was also undertaken of Hidden Valley Mine operating data, including expenditure on labour, royalties and other operating expenditures, to understand the overall level of activity the Hidden Valley Mine supports in the local communities. The analysis was summarised in a presentation report to be used by Harmony Gold for the purposes of advocacy work with the community and government regarding future planning for when the mine closes.

Client: Somerset Regional Council State: QLD The refurbishment of the Esk Jockey Club was identified as a medium-term implementation priority in the 2019 Esk Racecourse, Showgrounds and Gold Course Master Plan. The Esk Jockey Club has been flagged to be upgraded to improve accessibility and improve facility functionality. With these improvements, the facility will be able to be used for a variety of purposes and will present revenue raising opportunities. The venue will also adhere to Racing Queensland facility guidelines and will be able to host races in the future. AEC was engaged to provide socio-economic analysis for the redevelopment of the proposed facility upgrade, including both an economic impact evaluation and a Cost-Benefit Analysis to provide information suitable for various funding applications. Image Source: Esk Jockey Club Website

Client: RAPAD State: QLD Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development (RAPAD) Board represents the region’s local governments and is the peak regional economic development and advocacy body for the Central West Queensland regions. RAPAD’s mission is to facilitate growth and diversification of their regions economy and become a lead in powerful advocacy to government to address the region’s service and infrastructure needs. To achieve this mission, RAPAD engaged AEC to develop a regional water strategy, which seeks to understand how water can be properly utilised to achieve transformation change in the region’s economy and can lead to long-term sustainability of the region’s communities. In delivering this strategy, AEC undertook an economic appraisal of the water infrastructure in Central Western Queensland for RAPAD to identify opportunities for growth as well as challenges and barriers which currently hold the region back.

Client: Development WA State: WA AEC was engaged by DevelopmentWA to deliver a business case which sought to identify and recommend the ideal solution to address the critical vessel lifting capability gap at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC). The AMC is a foundational facility for the marine industry within Western Australia. Work undertaken across the AMC supports not only the marine industry, and industries with marine supply chain requirements, but it also support the region’s economic prosperity. AEC’s role was to develop the business case to identify the preferred solution to addressing the critical infrastructure gap. AEC undertook detailed demand projections, estimated the overall social and economic impact of the proposed investment, and evaluated the commercial viability of the proposed investment. The recommended solution considered the strategic alignment of the investment to the overall State and regional objectives and a risk assessment of the proposed investment.

Client: Edward River Council State: NSW The objective of the Financial Sustainability Review was to facilitate sustainable long-term planning and avert potential issues emerging in the future. The project's highlight was its ability to provide the council with a thorough understanding of past performance and a forecast of the Council’s capacity to maintain fiscal capital (access to cash) and maintain infrastructure (assets). The project included an assessment of the asset management maturity and testing the estimated infrastructure backlog and asset maintenance targets. AEC developed strategies and recommendations to the Council to address areas that required improvement to ensure financial sustainability in the long term. The project involved a thorough analysis of the Council's cost of services, capital works planning, asset management approach, risks, and opportunities. This analysis offered a clear and comprehensive picture of the Council's financial position, and identified areas where improvements could be made. The project considered Council's long-term strategic plans and how they align with their financial projections, ensuring integration of financial planning with strategic planning, enabling Council to achieve the Community Strategic Plan and other adopted strategies and plans. The success of the project was highlighted by the appreciation and compliments provided by the Councillors and the Executive Team, and we look forward to monitoring the realisation of the project through implementation of our recommendations. Source: https://www.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au/Services